Friday 31 August 2007

pater, -eros m. father; kleos, -ou n. fame

In the ninth book of Homer's Iliad, Phoenix tells a story to Achilles about Meleager and his wife, Kleopatra. The tale is an attempt to lure Achilles back into the fighting. As it is he goes on to lose his closest companion, Patroklos, before he overcomes his pride. There is no myth surrounding Achilles' mentor, and Homer might have made up the story of Meleager and Cleopatra to compensate for this. After all Kleopatra and Patroklos are exactly the same name!

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